Restoration Projects
Astronomical Observatory in Brera
The work was commissioned by the Institute of Physics, University of Milan.
- functional restoration of the collection of ancient astronomical instruments, clocks restored No. 4 Astronomical regulators and various meteorological instruments (6).
- Mural quadrant of Canivet built in Paris 1768
- Mobile sextant of Canivet built in Paris in 1765
- Transit instrument of Meghele built in Milan 1775
- Reflecting telescope of Giovanni Battista Amici built in Modena 1811:
- Of great importance: the restoration of the Merz refractor of 22 cm aperture and focal length of 3.15 meters. Year of construction 1861.The telescope was used by the astronomer Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli
Astronomical and Metereological Observatory in Modena
The work was commissioned by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
- reflecting telescope Giovanbattista Friends aperture 18 cm. and focal length 2.50 mt built in 1826
- 11 cm refracting telescope Reichenbach aperture and focal length 1.60 built in 1823
- Reichenbach meridian circle 13 cm aperture lf 1.40 m
- Restored 5 astronomical regulator clocks
- Various meteorological instruments, three lif which mercury barometers of the first half of the nineteenth
Giuseppe Parini of Milan high school
Executed functional restoration (in most cases) of ancient tools in the Physics Laboratory (500 pieces) some built in 1700, most built in 1800.
After the long restoration, ARASS-Brera proceeded to set up a permanent exhibition to make available all the rich collection of ancient tools, both to the school and, upon request to the Presidency of the Institute, to external visitors.
It ‘been redone to avoid inventory losses and facilitate the study of the same tools
We have been commissioned out by this Institute to provide for the restoration and the restoration of Specula Astronomica and equipped to allow students to practice, in a controlled manner, the observations of the sky.
The Liceo Parini is the only institute to have a high school astronomy dome.
The work was carried out with great satisfaction of all.
Science Museum of Chiavari (Genoa University)
The work was commissioned by the Institute of Physics, University of Genoa.
Functional restoration of all instruments of physics (380 pieces) of the ancient Collegio Vescovile of Chiavari College and the historic Seismic Observatory, in which three seismographs are installed: Alfani, Agamemnone and Stiattesi.
Cesare Beccaria of Milan High School
Functional restoration of the instruments that make up the old famous high school Physics Laboratory of the former St. Alexander’s collection consisting of 460 pieces.
About 20% of the tools were built in 1700, the bulk in 1800 and a small part in the early 1900’s.
The conservation status of these instruments was such, that a further delay in the intervention, even one year, would entail the loss of at least 20% of the entire collection.
Work began in May 2000 and was completed in March 2003.
Subsequently it has been set up a museum and has been completed an updated inventory
Ministry of Agriculture – U.C.E.A. ROME
The work was commissioned by the EU.C.E.A. (Central Bureau of Agricultural Ecology) Ministry of Agriculture. Now CRA – Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture.
The restoration of the vast collection of ancient meteorogical and seismic tools was started in 2000.
At the end of 2002 it was completed the second lot, for the conclusion of the work it is not possible to make predictions because so much depends on financial resources that the Board will assign to this program.
In addition to a large number of meteorological and seismic instruments was also performed functional restoration of a 14 cm aperture telescope with tripod and its four pendulum precision regulators.
Superintendency of Historical and Artistic Heritage of Milan
Restored the antique public clock bells Brera .
It was an extremely difficult restoration, even for the logistical conditions in which it was necessary to operate in order to restore the functionality af a very relevant clock in the history of time measurement, not only for Milan and Lombardy, but for the recently unified Italian country. Its importance was due to the fact that Brera Astronomical Observatory with this new bublic clock was commissioned to define the national average time.
This service was performed up to August 8, 1943: in that day Milan was the victim of a violent bombardment, in which the South Tower of the Observatory was hit and almost all the sophisticated tools for measuring time were destroyed or irreparably damaged.
Later this service was transferred to the Institute Galileo Ferraris of Turin.
Astronomical Observatory of Trieste
Functional restoration of the ancient Reinfelder 26 cm aperture telescope, 4 m focal length, built in 1882.
Again it is a very important functional restoration, since it has been restored to its original function, which over the years had undergone extensive changes that had distorted its unique characteristics.
This is also a prestigious restoration for ARASS-Brera and the city that hosts it, Milan.
Braidense National Library
Restoration of a large terrestrial globe constructed between 1819 and 1829, which has a circumference of 4 meters. At the time it was a very advanced instrument as it conformed to the latest geographical and astronomical discoveries (for example, the flattening of the poles). Also, very rare feature at the time, it had been designed as a multple of the meter.
The surface of the spheroid is drawn by hand, and this adds to the importance and rarity of the piece.
This is another case where the ARASS-Brera contribution was instrumental.
Specula Museum of Bologna
Restoration of the Steinheil telescope, built in 1872, aperture 2.55 m and length 17 cm.
Even in this case if it were not for the considerable skills and work-at no cost of the ARASS Brera, this work perhaps would never have been undertaken.
Villa Reale in Monza
Restoration commissioned by the Superintendency of Natural and Architectural Heritage.
Clock Tower – built in 1839 – Antonio Torri manufacturer of Milan.
Urgnano – Bergamo
Restoration commissioned by the city of Urgnano.
Mechanical and functional restoration of the municipal clock.
Berchet High School in Milan
Executed functional restoration of the ancient tools in the physics laboratory (400 pieces), most built of the first half of 1900.
The painstaking restoration work lasted a year, at the end of which Arass-Brera has taken steps to set up a permanent exhibition to make available all the rich collection of historic scientific instruments, both the school and the external visitors, upon request to the President of the Institute.
The inventory has been rebuilt, to avoid losses and facilitate the study of the many tools.
High School (eighteenth century) Bagatta of Desenzano – Brescia
157 antique instruments of the ancient physics laboratory collection have been restored to their original functions.
Accurate work, as in all such cases. The instruments were photographed before and after restoration, while for each unit was collected a detailed record, with the historical name of the instrument and the manufacturer, year and place of construction, origin and date of purchase (in where available) and any other useful informatin, the restoration work performed, products used and finally if the restoration is functional and conservative.
This work was completed in July 2006. It was presented to the public with an exhibition in the municipal exhibition space.
Alarm Clock Restoration Piazza Loggia (Brescia)
Restoration commissioned by the city of Brescia.
(Year of construction 1546)
Restoration of the control components of the ring worn pins and bushings in the sector with throw-in stage of gearing.
Inserted a device for safety and security of the historical machine.
The ARASS association has in place with the Municipality of Brescia a convention for the ordinary annual maintenance of the running entire clock-Astrario complex.
Astronomical Clock Restoration – Piazza dei Signori (Padua)
Restoration commissioned by the city of Padua.
(The oldest in Europe, built in 1424)
Astronomical Observatory of Turin
